As a parting act, lunch at Racine's which was happily situated on a vineyard, and on their wine list, they served mostly local wines and some of their own production. As a change from my usual order of a bold red wine and a strong flavoured meat, I went for a glass of bubblies to start my meal, to match the beautiful crisp (though freezing) weather, and the lovely cool apple green interior.
We started with an amuse-bouche - an appetite opener that starts you salivating, and mentally anticipating a great meal to come - a creamy corn veloute that was so lush, I wanted a whole pot!
Martin had the deboned duck on a bed of lentils and beetroot sauce - beautiful, indulges the sight the touch the smell and the taste. If only it sings!!
The first non-red meat I ordered at a restaurant for a long time - Slow cooked pork belly and pork cheek with apple puree, the pork cheek had amazing texture, which to me is much more exciting than the soft melt in your mouth pork belly, but that's just me! Apple sauce cut the grease of the fat but delicious belly!
Cheese plate - blue, cheddar, soft brie; with pear slices, muscatel and selection of breads and crackers. Really lovely cheddar, dared not to handle the blue, and brie was not as nice as King Island :p
Ah my meal highlight - dessert - peanut butter ice cream and three little doughnuts on beetroot compotes. Tangy beetroot, sweet warm doughnut, wonderfully velvety peanut butter ice cream - heaven!
So that concluded my wonderful culinary trip to Orange and surrounds. Until next time - keep warm and eat up!!
